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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, June 9, 2010 · 22 $ 8 OFF any oil change package Coupon required. Expiry: June 30, 2010 Code: 5582 345 Speers Rd. (at Dorval), Oakville 905-842-9299 Valid at all GTA locations. Nissan Altima Hybrid helps the environment and the pocketbook By Lorne Drury Metroland Newspapers Carguide Magazine Hop in, push the starter button and your Nissan Altima Hybrid is ready to go. It's as simple as that and not nearly the complicated process that many might expect if you are not educated in the operation of a gas-electric hybrid vehicle. Unlike the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight, which are designed from the ground up as hybrids, the Altima Hybrid is a standard four-door Altima sedan, outfitted with a hybrid power train. Nissan says it set out to make the Altima one of the best performing large front-wheel drive sedans on the market. The hybrid version adds better fuel economy and fewer emissions to produce a more environmentally friendly vehicle. The Hybrid is one of five models in the Altima lineup, joining the Altima 2.5 S, 2.5 S with SL Package, and two 3.5-litre V6 models, the 3.5 S and 3.5 SR. With few changes from the 2009 model, the 2010 Altima Hybrid is really an easy and pleasant vehicle to drive. It has a welldesigned, comfortable interior and, for 2010, offers an optional Leather Tech Package ($4,900) that includes a number of features including leather seats, Bose audio system and rear view monitor. Also new for this model year is a refreshed front fascia and grille, newly styled 16-inch alloy wheels and standard folding mirrors with integrated turn signals. The Altima Hybrid power train starts with Nissan's tried and true 2.5-litre four-cylinder gasoline engine. The engine has been refined with a larger intake manifold, increased compression ratio and reduced friction characteristics. It is combined with an electric motor, producing a hybrid system power rating of 198 hp, and it can travel an estimated 1,300 km between fill-ups. The hybrid system is designed so the car will run on electric power alone if appropriate. This occurs mainly during stop-and-go driving so the Altima Hybrid is a better bet for those who do a lot of city driving. When more power is required, the gasoline engine starts instantly and generates the power needed for acceleration. In stop-and-go driving, the system goes into Electric Vehicle (EV) mode to power the car through its initial acceleration period-- typically a gas-powered vehicle's least fuelefficient stage. After the initial acceleration, the gasoline engine kicks in to power the vehicle. Nissan Altima Hybrid 2010 At A Glance: BODY STYLE: four-door sedan. DRIVE METHOD: front engine, frontwheel drive ENGINE: 2.5-litre DOHC 16-valve inline four-cylinder engine (158 hp, 162 lb/ft of torque) combined with a 40 hp electric motor, producing a total net horsepower of 198. FUEL ECONOMY: 5.6L/100 km (50 mpg) city and 5.9L/100 km (48 mpg) highway. PRICE: $33,398, as tested $38,433 plus $1,500 freight and PDI. WEB SITE: www.nissan.ca On the road, the Altima Hybrid has pretty decent acceleration, thanks in part to the added power from the electric motor that produces about 40 hp and 199 lb/ft of torque. To keep it in electric (EV) mode you have to feather the throttle as lightly as possible and even then, the gasoline engine often kicks in. A few times, I was able to accelerate to 60 km/h in EV mode and that's when you get the best fuel economy numbers. You can punch up your fuel economy numbers as well as your average speed on a read out in the information display area below the speedometer. I was able to average about 6.2L/100 km (46 mpg) during my week with the car, which included mostly highway driving. The car feels smaller than it is and handles well in tight city driving, while the electric power steering has a precise feel to it. Inside, the cabin has an upscale look, particularly with the leather interior that is part of the Leather Tech Package. One drawback with the hybrid, however, is the smallish trunk that loses space to the battery pack parked behind the rear seats. There's also a nine-speaker Bose audio system with a six-CD changer, USB port, iPod connectivity and satellite radio. A rear view camera system is another nice feature. Again, all these are part of the optional Leather Tech Package. So, for those who don't want to go the full hybrid route like the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight, the Nissan Altima offers a great alternative. While you'll pay a hefty premium over the entry-level Altima 2.5 S that starts at $23,798, you'll feel good about doing your part to help the environment while at the same time helping your own pocketbook. The Nissan Altima Hybrid looks just like any other Altima sedan, but uses a hybrid power train developed by Toyota, the same one used in the Toyota Camry Hybrid. At speed, the electric motor starts again to help power the vehicle and reduce the gasoline consumption. There is a digital display on the speedometer that shows when the car is running solely on electric power. Unlike some hybrids where the switch from electric to gasoline power is smooth, there is a bit of a shudder when the gasoline engine kicks on in the Altima Hybrid. However, you soon get used to the switch over and after a day or two with the car, the transition become barely noticeable. The fuel economy benefits are lessened if you do a lot of highway driving as the Altima Hybrid is rated at 5.6L/100 km (50 mpg) city and 5.9L/100 km (48 mpg) highway. In comparison, the 2.5-litre four-cylinder gasoline engine model produces numbers of 8.7L/100 km (32 mpg) city and 6.0L/100 km (47 mpg) highway. As far as emissions are concerned, the Altima Hybrid is rated as an Advanced Technology-Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) and emits almost no evaporative emissions. Regenerative braking is used to recharged the Altima Hybrid's battery system. A generator places resistance on the driveshaft during braking and the system converts this friction into usable energy that is stored in the system's 244.8V Nickel Metal Hydride battery for use by the electric motor. Design wise, the Altima Hybrid is identical to the regular Altima sedan, except for the Hybrid badge on the outside and hybrid power/charge display on the information display. This is a plus in my opinion because many of the dedicated hybrids are not what you would call `sexy' from a design standpoint. While they may be aerodynamically designed, they're not pretty. The Altima uses Nissan's 2.5-litre fourcylinder engine, but the hybrid system is one designed by Toyota and used in the Camry Hybrid. The fuel economy figures are similar to the Altima Hybrid as the Camry gets 5.7L/100 km in both city and highway driving. Again, similar to the other Altima models, the usual safety features are included on the Hybrid version. They include dual-stage front airbags, front seat side-impact air bags, roof-mounted side curtain airbags and front seat active head restraints. Also standard are traction control, stability control, anti-lock brakes, electric power steering and a continuously variable transmission, specially designed to work with the gas-hybrid system. Other standard features are keyless ignition with Nissan's Intelligent Key system, folding side mirrors with integrated turn signals, dual zone climate control, leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls and a power moonroof.